Biological Invasions of Cold-Water Coastal Ecosystems - Aquatic ...

Chapt 9E. Museum, Reference and Voucher Specimens, page 9E- 4
Table 9.E.1. Continued
Spionidae Sternapsis scutata Jewett samples
Syllidae Typosyllis armillaris UAM uncataloged
Syllidae Typosyllis fasciata Jewett samples
Syllidae Typosyllis harti UAM uncataoged
Syllidae Typosyllis sp. UAM uncataoged
Jewett samples
Biological Technician Max Hoberg (UAF) used the suspect list to remove 1,154 specimens for
screening: 154 crustaceans, 1081 polychaetes, 307 molluscs, 30 bryozoans. From these,
specimens in the best condition were removed for further study. Thirty-five small crustacea
were loaned to focal taxonomic expert J. Chapman (OSU), and similarly polychaete specimens
were loaned to focal taxonomic expert J. Kudenov (UA Anchorage). Analyses of these
specimens (presently on-going) will be reported in the 2000 final report for the University of
Alaska Sea Grant.
9E3. Results
Mollusc Taxa, including One Known NIS
Most east Pacific records of the soft shell clam, Mya arenaria, are the result of its
accidental introduction along with Atlantic oysters, starting in San Francisco Bay in 1869, and
Puget Sound in 1888 or 1889. We found that the clam was abundant in mud sediments in
Cordova. We also found it in Port Valdez, Tatitlek, Constantine Harbor, Homer and Seward.
Mya arenaria is also documented in Alaska from Nunivak Island, Norton Sound, and Kodiak
Island (UAM collection records) as well as southeastern Alaska.
Nora Foster examined mollusc specimens from both the EVOS specimens and cataloged
and uncataloged specimens the UA Museum, selecting the following taxa for re-examination:
• small venerids and Turtonia, were examined as possibly misidentified specimens of potential
NIS Protamcorbicula amurensis, Venerupsis philipinarium, or Nuttalia obscurata;
• small individuals of Musuculus spp. were reexamined as possibly misidentified specimens of
the potential NIS Musculista stenhousei;
• Cerithiidae were re-examined were reexamined as possibly misidentified specimens of the
potential NIS Battilaria;
• Ocenibrina were reexamined as possibly misidentified specimens of the potential NIS
Urosalpinx cineria and Ocenebra inornata, two introduced oyster drills; and
• Crepidula specimens were reexamined as possibly misidentified specimens of the potential
NIS Crepidula fornicata.
None of these potential NIS taxa were found. However, to date it has been possible to examine
carefully only a small subsample of the collections, and we are faced with the situation of there
being too many samples and too little time.
University of Alaska Sea Grant funding for this analysis of existing museum and
reference collections continues until June 30, 2000. The goals for this remaining time frame are
to:
• Incorporate information from additional taxonomic experts and ecologists.